floydraser

Oops, just found the internal pics!

Lovely boat! I'm looking forward to seeing the inside. Did you have a hand in the design?

I offer the theory that it's not the pronunciation that's wrong; it's the spelling. Having researched my family history I have experienced hand written records hundreds of years old. Parish records written by whoever was responsible within the local church. Go back far enough through time and this person may be the only person in the village who could read and write. Said person probably didn't think that in 300 years time everyone would be able to read and write on their laptops. So in Norfolk accents of the time: Excuse me, what is your name? Herbet Oswaldwhistle. And how do you spell that? I'm sorry I don't know. Where are you from? Hone-ing And how do you spell that? How the hell you like because I can't read! And so the person wrote down what they thought it should be thinking this writing lark would go the way of VHS and cassette tapes. I saw variations in parish records where one person had recorded all events in date order as they happened, then their successor had written them all down grouping similar events together. The only way to find what you're looking for (if it's even there!) is by reading every entry.

Thank you, I wanted to ask how much but thought it a bit rude.

Lovely. Who wouldn't want a holiday on the Broads after seeing that? No jeopardy or crashes. A remake would be interesting.

I was thinking along the lines of solar panels, insulation, heat pumps etc where grants can be an incentive. Sky tv, mobile phones etc. where they give you the equipment but for a fixed term contract. Depends who wants it more, the customer (BA) or the supplier. We as consumers will just have to pay for it all anyway but maybe not through the tolls, just on the power used.

I think we have Camra to thank for that.

I wonder about this one: do we know the cost of installation or are you assuming that's the case? I wonder if the supplier would install charging points at a heavily discounted rate or free?

For goodness sake! I've just caught this but it looks like within 10 hours of it appearing here we are trying to pin it on JP! But for the sake of a couple of minutes googling one can see that this couple gave up their professions to invest in the place in 2022. Well if my maths is correct that's about last year then. A brilliant time to invest just as everyone is flush with cash??? Not. A gamble. Fair play to them for giving it a go but they blame rising costs of wholesale stuff. Best to get out before you lose too much then. So what does "permanently" actually mean for the future of the place? Convert to a nice house or does another business take over? I guess we'll see.

I don't wish to make anyone feel old but I think Watneys was a thing of the past before I was old enough to drink. I remember "What we want is Watneys!" but mainly it's mentioned in a Monty Python sketch about travel agents. Actually Coventry gets a mention too:

Maybe we should have an "Aspy" section of the forum! I too am blessed with a little part of Dr Hans Asperger's wonderful syndrome and I guess there are others close by who may not realise they are too. You are not alone and the level of your attention to detail gave you away ages ago!

This could apply to thousands, just change the place names: "Like a lot of boys he joined up too early and was thrown out. He joined again when he was old enough and was a private in the 7th Middlesex Regiment. He ended the war as a Corporal. He fought at a few places but Fleurs and the Somme were among them. He was a very good shot with a rifle and was a sniper at times. He told us he used to aim “four inches below the spike”. This refers to some of the German helmets which had a spike on top! On the other hand he was also involved in hand to hand fighting which he didn't like to talk about. In the trenches, when a German hand grenade landed in the trench the person nearest to it was expected to pick it up and chuck it back! We think of it as heroic now but back then it was seen as looking after your mates; you were all in it together. Grandad had scars on the back of his right hand where a grenade went off as he was throwing it back. But then think: how far can you throw a grenade? Well if one lands in your trench then the bloke who threw it is not far away is he? By the time you've bent down to pick it up he could be at the top of your trench and about to jump in! One night they were out in No-man's Land on patrol, captain at the front and Grandad as corporal at the back. A shell landed in the middle of them and Grandad woke up in an American field hospital some time later. For years he believed he was the only survivor but he found out the captain had also survived. Unfortunately, all the others perished. They would have been his friends and neighbours. I think that is the reason they never talked about their experiences in public, as someone who lost a relative may be able to hear. Also, it could be seen as gloating that you survived. During WW2 he served in the local Home Guard around Tottenham."

If you want to make friends in Coventry just strike up a conversation about the 1987 FA cup final. I used to work with lads from Coventry and they had a few tales to tell about working in the car factories. One of them said his dad used to work at "the Triumph" and their garden pond had a fountain powered by a TR8 electric fuel pump. Another told how he knew someone who could get tyres out past the security guards.

Brew XI.. was that a Midlands thing or nationwide? Reminds me of: Mackeson - "Looks good, tastes good and by golly it does you good!" "A Double Diamond works wonders works wonders works wonders a Double Diamond works wonders so drink some today!"

Too wet to do much outside but it was a nice day on Tuesday so we nipped over to Coventry to have a look at the cathedral. The bombed remains of St Michael's church next door are quite moving, especially given the time of year. Not only is the 11th November significant but also 14th, the anniversary of the bombing in 1940. Easy for us to get there as we only live about 25 minutes away, we went to the only Park and Ride in Coventry which is to the south of the city off the Kenilworth Road and within the War Memorial Park. Next best way to get there would be by train as the newish station is quite close to the city centre. Driving and parking in Coventry is horrendous! Parking and buses are charged separately: parking is free for 3 hours then £4 for 4 hours etc. but get a discount ticket from the bus driver and it's £1 all day. We parked up and politely joined the short queue behind two other couples. A bus came in, rounded the oval, pulled up and the doors opened. Nobody moved so the doors closed and the bus drove off! We asked the others why they didn't get on the bus. It turns out the p&r is part of a regular route and the other couples were waiting to go in the opposite direction, to Warwick! Ah. One of them said it was a nice walk to the centre and it was, a lot of it being through the park where we also came across a coffee shop. It was a couple of miles but for now, that's ok for us. We enjoyed the cathedral; what a contrast to Westminster Abbey a couple of weeks ago! No photos because they would just look like the ones you see online, it was worth the personal experience though. I wouldn't think the cathedral on it's own makes Coventry worth a visit. Combine it with the Motor Museum for a better day out. There are plenty of eating/drinking places supported by university students but I'm afraid the buildings are looking a bit tired and disjointed. There's a Wetherspoons where the locals would enjoy staring at you, or a Zizzis just round the corner. You pays your money.....

May be worth asking at a decent size marina around St Ives or Wayford Bridge for recommendations?

Good info but in addition to costs: Some companies specialise in certain geographic areas and can offer better rates. I rang one company and they told me they don't really go there (where I wanted to go at the time) but recommended a company that did. You may also get a better rate if you are prepared to wait while the operator finds a boat to move in the opposite direction as a "return load".

Absolutely! Which is why I wonder, do people keep making and promoting Youtube videos showing nothing but boat crashes on the Broads?

The girl said she has never been to Norfolk. It would be interesting to see them do a similar thing on the Broads. So long as they gave their honest opinions.

Just reading that Ian has been busy yet again for Hemsby lifeboat. I had no luck with the museum so the telescope has been wrapped up and stored in my attic. I'm thinking that uncovering it's history would add interest and value to it. Then it could go back to auction and the proceeds could go to the lifeboat, as it came from Norfolk. It would perfect to find it listed on an inventory of a ship but I doubt that'll happen. I'm waiting for the BBC to update their Antiques Roadshow website with next year's venues.

Where is this Lathams? I need to get Mrs Raser something for Christmas....

Wow. Reminded me of my first time solo sailing my 22ft Seal Sinbad on Rutland Water. Chris called it right; frightening and exilerating at the same time!

Potentail? Who wrote that?

From June: From last Monday 30.10.23: I would now like to declare this deck waterproof! The caulking will be tidied up next time when it'll be nice and hard. Trying to use the best materials, the Sikaflex 290 cost me £28 and after small usage did it's job - turning into hard rubber - in the nozzle and the end of the tube. Being a dedicated cheapskate, I punched a hole in the side of the tube to use the fresh stuff and applied it with a couple of spatulas, hence the mess. I'm happy now that if the cover gets destroyed in one of these storms the water can't in too much. It'll always find a way in I suppose, but not too much. No major surgery left to do! Just need to plug the hole from the gas water heater stack, apply resin to soft bits and paint the three roofs, but that can all wait. Just going to order the seals for the Houdini hatches, thanks to Karizma. The potentail buyer hasn't actually pulled out, just done the modern thing and stopped communicating which I take to mean the same thing. They were yet another in the string of people who hope I'm a kindly old romantic gent who'll succumb to their sob story. Nope, this is the real world not the chuffing Repair Shop!

I reckon you're about spot on there LR; I've just the latest email from the money saving expert. Their survey shows the best time to renew is between 20 and 26 days before renewal.